Chow to become next Hawaii head coach

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow has accepted the job as Hawaii's new head coach, a person with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday.

The Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah offensive coordinator Norm Chow has accepted the job as Hawaii's new head coach, a person with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because all the details of the move have not yet been formalized.

"I don't know what the reports are saying but there's nothing been finalized," Chow said after practice. "I haven't signed a piece of paper. ... I'm not trying to be coy. I'm here coaching football for the University of Utah. We have a nice game to play in and I'm real excited about that. We'll just have to wait and see."

When asked whether he plans to coach in the Sun Bowl against Georgia Tech on Dec. 31, Chow replied, "If Kyle (Whittingham) would have me, I would be honored to stay."

University of Hawaii officials referred all inquiries to the university athletic office, which declined to comment.

Chow previously served as offensive coordinator at UCLA, for the Tennessee Titans, at Southern California, North Carolina State and Brigham Young, helping to develop four Heisman Trophy winners.

Moving to Hawaii will be a homecoming for the 65-year-old Chow.

Chow was born and raised in the plantation town of Waialua, located on Oahu's North Shore. He graduated from Punahou School in Honolulu and got his coaching start at Waialua High and Intermediate School before becoming a graduate assistant at BYU in 1973.

He spent 27 years as assistant under LaVell Edwards at BYU running its innovative spread offense. He helped the Cougars to their only national championship in 1984.